Encouragers

We live in a world of negativity.  The news is negative.  Social media is negative.  Friends and family are negative.  How do we stay sane in a world that is so angry?  What our world needs are encouragers.  My favorite character in the Bible besides Jesus is a man named Joseph from Cyprus.  He was such a positive influence on the early church that the disciples changed his name.  Anytime a person's name was changed in the Bible it meant there was a change in that person.  I've heard some pretty bad nicknames.  But I love what they changed Joseph's name to be.  He was called Barnabas.  That may sound like a strange name but it means "Son of Encouragement."  Wouldn't that be cool to have your name changed because you were such an encouragement?  Barnabas is the reason the disciples accepted Saul who persecuted the church.  I believe it was because of Barnabas that Saul transformed into Paul.  I believe it was because of Barnabas and his encouraging that John Mark went from outcast to Paul to a useful servant.  Barnabas was a great man that the Bible said led many people to the Lord.  It also says he encouraged people.  I want to be remembered as an Encourager.